Theophylact of Ohrid, on 1Thess 2:18

“For we would have come unto you, I Paul indeed, once and again: but Satan hath hindered us.”

“What are you saying? Satan hindered? Exactly so; for this was not a work of God. In the Epistle to the Romans he says that God hindered (Rom. 1:13, 15:22); and Luke says that the Spirit hindered them (Acts 16:6); and in the Epistle to the Corinthians he says that this was the work of the Spirit (see 2 Cor. 1:15, 22). But here it is simply the work of Satan, who brings about strong and sudden temptations, of course by God's permission. See how he boasts of his love, showing that he loved them more than all others, which is why he says: "I, Paul," that is, although the others with me also desired to come to you, I even resolved to do so.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.